The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-02-04
%THANKFUL'S TWO VIGILS.
BY JAMES FRANKLIN FITS.

bored down q thousand feet into the
heart of Pennsylvania and extracted
fabulous quantities OF oil, and when
the ladies became content with steel
stripes for corsets instead of whale
bone-then one of the greatest and
most adventurous of the industries OF
New England received its death-blow.
Our story relates to the time when
there was hustle and business in an
ancient and historic seaport, where
now may be seen rotting wharves
and tumble.down warehouses; when
q dozen sea-going vessels were in
the harbor where one is now
seen; when the staunch whale-ships
went cut on their long voyages,
and came back laden with the wealth
that made the prosperity OF the port;
when sailors and sailors families
made up a large share of the popula-
ton and the old town really seemed
to belong less to the land than to the
sea.
All this has changed; and the Incl
dents we relate could. hardly occur
there now. But human lives and hu-
man hopes and fears, happiness and
misery, are much the same every
where.
Well back from the harbor, the
wharves and the busy part OF the
town, in that outskirt of it that was
built on the rising ground that
overlooked the town. bay and
ocean, Captain Benson had his
cottage. He was at home very lit
tie of the time; but when he was he
loved a place like this, command
ine a wide view ofthe ocean-rim, where
he could sit at the window by the
hour and with his good glass discover
the first indication OF sails approach
ing the coast. He was q veteran
whaler, and had for fully fifty years
pursued the business on all seas. For
the last two years he had commanded
the whaleship Chevalier. On his last
voyage out he had said TO his wife,
t1t'Il be the last, Nancy. Let me
go once more to the South Pacific
and fill the old ship with oil,
and then I'll stay here and
pass the rest of my days with you
and Thankful. Jack Sturdy, my
mate, will then be master-he's a fine
fellow, Thankful; ] must bring him
here to see YOU"
Then the old captain looked from
his wife to his daughter and addedthe
droll remark, For my part, I'm be-
ginning to think it's time | was better
acquainted with you two"
He went to sea again, but he V
returned. A year later the eyes of the
wife and daughter was gladdened by
the sight of the Chevalier sailing into
the bay. But instead of him they
eagerly watched for, the mate came
up, slowly and sorrowfully, to tell
them that the captain had died of
fever in Callao, and was buried there.
John Sturdy was now captain, and
was busy enough overhauling the ship,
picking his crew and making all ready
for his first voyage in command ofthe
ship But it was noticed that after
everything had been done for the wife
and daughter which the dying captain
had requested, after their grief had
somewhat subsidized, Captain Sturdy
still climbed the hill to the cottage at
least three times q week.
Presently thegossips ofthe neighbor.
hood began to hint that Thankful
Benson could tell why he came SO Oft
en-; and not more than three months
had passed since he first came when
Mrs. Benson silenced them ak with
the plain statement:
s.1here needn't be any mystery
about it; Thankful and Captain Stur.
dy are engaged, and win be married
as soon as q proper respect for the
memory Of her father will allow. It'll
probably be ut the end OF the Cheva.
lier's NEXT voyage"
John Sturdy was an experienced
seaman OF 36-ifteen years older thar
Thankiul-to whom his ship had beer
his world, and to whom ideas Of love
and marriage had appeared i'd,
myths. He met Thankful Benson fol
the first time when she tainted in hi
arms upon his distressing errand Il
the cottage. She had growiisIpon hi
fancy with every visit, and his hear
was quickly offered. With her it wa
q case of first love. ItSwas allthat he
girlish imagination required. An,
when he took the girl by thehand an,
asked the widow for her consen
she smiled and sighed all at once.
10, it's we'll enough. Thankful" sh
eaid, IF you must marry q sailor